Jorhat, Jan. 27: Police today sought the help of village defence party (VDP) personnel to protect the Dhola-Sadiya bridge, near which militants carried out a blast yesterday.
The country's longest bridge is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Bohag Bihu celebrations in mid-April.
The blast, which took place around 8.20am near a water body at Sisni village, is only about 70 metres from the bridge. The Telegraph had reported earlier that the strategic bridge could come under attack from militant groups.
The 9.15km bridge, when complete, would help troop movement to the China border and there are reports of China supporting a few militant groups of the Northeast. Special technology has been adopted to to strengthen the bridge for the passage of army tanks.
Sources said the blast was quite powerful and the sound was heard 20km away. "Had the bomb been planted on the bridge it would have caused major damage," a police officer said.
A team led by Sadiya superintendent of police P.S. Chagmai, today visited Sisni village and asked VDP personnel to help security forces in conducting regular patrolling along the bridge, especially at night.
An army team from Sapakhowa also visited the bridge today and inspected the blast site.
The police officer said security along the bridge has been tightened with more armed personnel deployed at both ends of the bridge. "These armed personnel have been posted permanently at both the Dhola and Sadiya sides of the bridge and they would patrol it regularly," the officer said.
He said the VDP personnel have been asked to patrol the ground below the bridge with the help of the police.
"Apart from these measures, army personnel would also conduct frequent patrolling along the bridge," the officer said.
The officer said security personnel would also make regular visits to villages located along the bridge to deter any attempt by militants to carry out sabotage.
Inspector-general of police in-charge (eastern range) R.P. Meena had visited the bridge a few days ago and reviewed security measures.
Construction of this bridge in Assam across the Brahmaputra was approved as a part of Rs 24,000-crore Arunachal Pradesh package to improve road connectivity in the border state.
Work on the Rs 938-crore. two-lane bridge had started in November 2010.
Apart from the blast along the bridge, the 68th Republic Day celebrations in Assam yesterday was marred by seven low-intensity blasts across four Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar. No casualty was reported though.
The Paresh Asom faction of Ulfa had claimed responsibility for the blasts.
